Phish entered the Heartland, hot off a spectacular run in the Bay, and kept things chugging right along with a smoking two setter in one of the coolest venues they have ever visited. Starlight Theatre carries a distinctly medieval vibe, crafted in brick with castle-like towers on each side of the stage. And between those two towers, Phish did work last night, throwing down two beefy sets of music with highlights galore.

Official KC Print (S.R.Ho/Us & Them)

From the show-opening “Chalk Dust”—a jam that got far more intense than most recent lead-offs—it was clear that the band meant business, and when they followed it up with the return of “Skin It Back” for the first time since Jones Beach, they left little doubt. Passing through “Moma” and “Rift,” the first set came to an undeniable peak with the pairing of “Bathtub Gin” and “Stash.” Trey got loose in “Bathtub,” showcasing licks of delicacy and fire while the band built a climbing canvas around him. Remaining within the confines of the song, the guys sculpted a blistering rendition that brought all four players fully into the mix. And if “Gin” brought the upbeat vibe to the first set pairing, “Stash” most definitely brought the darkness. Flipping the demonic jam on end, Trey, Page and Mike converged on a harmonic shift, bringing “Stash” into major-key wonderland while remaining charted for the jam’s peak. Dipping in and out of this feel a couple times, the band built a uniquely contoured jam that popped off the stage with a zest rarely seen from the first set staple. Dropping a must-hear excursion before halftime, the band raised the ante of an increasingly engaging first set plot line. The summer debut of “The Ballad of Curtis Loew” came in a perfectly slot, backing up a slew of improv. Punchy versions of “Kill Devil Falls” and “Funky Bitch” set up a notably laid-back, full-band “Antelope” that finished a stellar frame in style.

8.22.12 (R.MacNeill)

“Tweezer” has been an enigma for much of this year, as Phish has kept their classic launchpad, more or less, inside the box. But that all changed in colossal fashion last night, as they graced the evening with an exploratory escapade steeped in bliss and majesty. In the Phish universe, there’s nothing quite like a second-set-opening “Tweezer” and last night, the band unveiled their most prolific of this era. The guys spent no time in conventional territory, exiting stage left immediately into a floating, melody-anchored experimental tale. Taking things slow and methodically, the band instantly stepped into paradise, and proceeded down that path for the duration, sinfully dropping in and out of “Tweezer’s” groove like bandits. Trey laid way back, playing only the most tasteful notes, as Mike offered super creative leads that dictated the tone for much of the piece. Sailing on a magic carpet ride through jaw-dropping planes of euphoric melody, the band flowed effortlessly while exploring transcendent music for an extended period of time. And as they reached the top, Trey brought it home with a soul-crushing peak that will leave anyone blithering in joy. Climbing down the backside of the jam with a more ambient-laced sequence, the guys dripped right into “Piper.”

8.22.12 (R.MacNeill)

Combining two of their most significant vehicles, the band soared into a locked and intense “Piper” jam that provided a dark juxtaposition to “Tweezer’s” magnificent light. Shredding a high-octane collaboration, Phish broke things down into furious percussive textures before dripping into spacier, though still directed playing. This jam covered an immense amount of musical ground with airtight interplay, though it seemed to end a bit suddenly for “Mike’s Song.” The second rousing rendition of “Mike’s” in a row opened the door for the first mellower combo of the set in “Bouncin’” and a well-played “Number Line.” It seemed that “Heavy Things” might continue this trend, but the piece possessed additional vigor as Page took an extended solo while Trey comped him with uncharacteristic rhythm chops. Gracefully taking the reins, Red then took his solo, bringing the song back around and landing in a heart-wrenching version of “If I Could.”

8.22.12 (R.MacNeill)

Just as the set needed another dose of action, Mike started up a ridiculous version of “Weekapaug” that sounded plucked from the depths of Fall ’97. Hard funk was the name of the game in this outstanding jam that certainly deserves a nod as a show highlight. Riding the crest of “Weekapaug,” Phish dropped a second-straight standout “Harry Hood” that starting in a quasi-plinko realm and migrated into an intense, old-school feel with Trey playing for keeps. “Suzy” stamped the set complete, and the second show in a row ended with “Tweezer Reprise!”

Phish left their mark on Starlight Amphithetre, playing a in their first visit to Kansas City area since 2000. Every single song seemed to include something special last night, with barely a lull in the show. And as we look ahead to a hotly anticipated run through the deep South, things couldn’t look better in the world of Phish. See ya’ll in Alabama!

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496 Responses to “Starlight Express”

Yeah I wish I could drop everything and do all three days in CO as well. The flow the band is showing is just too great to deny.

The Tweezer last night has gotten more than 10 spins at my place today already. Can’t get enough of it. Really does feel like a return to that glorious 8/1/98 version. Haven’t listened to the 8/1/99 version in a coon’s age but I have it here on the machine so I’ll check that out again now. Thanks for the pointer, Miner.

Yeah this no fall tour feels like a truly ‘lost tour.’ Makes me think of what could have been in Fall 1993 too. I know they played an enormous number of shows that year but hearing the skills on display in 12/30/93 (best two set show ever IMO and not coincidentally my first show ever) makes me wish for more more more.

Well I have listened to the first half of the second set about 25 times now and I gotta say it is an impressive piece of work. Feels good to hear the band interplaying as well as they are. I am as impressed with the other work from this tour though. RnR > Ghost from Long Beach and last night’s Tweezer are just about as good IMO.

The LBC Hood is a thing of beauty. Trey playing that song with intention is pretty rare in 3.0 IMO and to hear him crafting the thing with a specific tone not super typical to the song was excellent. And when the band quieted and brought a bit of dynamics back to the thing I was moved. Great listening all around. The GTBT that follows is as precise and rocking as you could hope for too. Trey’s playing on Guyute was the best I’d heard from him on that song since 1.0. Loved it all.

Can’t help but think that last night was an answer to BGCC majesty. Phish: Yes, we’re that good, i.e. repeat grand Tweezer; and yes, we’re as happy to serve a Mike’s fluff Groove as a mind melting Split. When they’re playing this good it really is all good.